OUR KAUPAPA

SPORTS

Each year, Te Rōpū Māori offer a number of social and competitive sports and events throughout the semester for tauira to join in. Coordinated by Unipol, a social sports tournament is run every semester, and TRM tries to enter a team into each sport. In past years this has included Netball, Basketball, Volleyball and Touch Rugby - as well as others. We try and cater for everyone, and are open to suggestions for other sports that could be offered! 

Social sports is also a great way to meet fellow tauira at the University, with 2018 having one of the highest rates of first-year engagement we’ve seen in a while which has been awesome! In previous years, we have also been invited to join our Pasifika whānau in annual sports tournaments they host at the Edgar Centre. We have entered both social and competitive teams in this, so don’t feel like you need to be an athlete - it’s a fun day with laughs all-round! 
Don’t forget that there are multiple sporting clubs throughout Dunedin for those looking for a team to join, and many of our current tauira are already members and would love to see some more faces amongst them. 

On top of this, Te Rōpū Māori runs it’s own Sports Day each semester which pits Ngā Rōpū against one another in hopes of winning the coveted Ngā Rōpū Shield at the end of the year - keep an ear open for these. 

Finally, throughout the year, there is no doubt that spontaneous opportunities will arise that will give you even more choice and Te Rito is always open to hearing your suggestions or ideas, because at the end of the day that is what we are here for! So come get amongst and bring your friends too!

HAERENGA

Haerenga focuses on engaging with tauira Māori who were in their final years of high school and looking at entering tertiary study; sharing personal stories and experiences we faced as tertiary tauira ourselves in our first year of University. The various courses of studies, year levels and backgrounds provides high school students with plenty of information that they can relate to and allows for reflection on their own feelings and thoughts about University. It also showed the success that Māori can have in tertiary study, and the diversity and flexibility you have to shape your own path. 

As a way of unwinding and treating ourselves after our mahi,  Haerenga trips have included travelling to Queenstown and enjoying all that the adventure capital of Aotearoa has to offer including Fear Factory, AJ Hackett canyon swings and of course shopping. If you’re looking for a chance to share your experiences and knowledge with future tauira of the University of Otago, be sure to sign-up for the next Haerenga, you won’t regret it!

TE HUINGA TAUIRA

Te Huinga Tauira o Te Mana Ākonga is an annual event that advocates the enhancement of our fundamental Māori values and in doing so strengthens our reo, tikanga, whakapapa and mātauranga Māori whilst networking with other Māori students from all around Aotearoa. It is usually a 4 day event that includes an AGM and activities such as kapa haka, a variety of workshops run by the hosting whare wānanga, manu kōrero speech & debating competitions and many more. It is through coming together in an environment that celebrates who we are as Māori that not only uplifts the spiritual well-being of our students but also reaffirms their place in the world.

Otago University (Te Rōpū Māori) have been given the opportunity to host Te Huinga Tauira 2019 here in Dunedin, where we endeavour to provide the best Otago experience. There will be 30 tauira selected to represent Te Rōpū Māori at this kaupapa, as well as the many volunteers who will be behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. Taihoa rawa, ngā whakamahuki mō ngā tūranga.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Hiato mai kia manawa tahi, hiato mai kia manawa roa, whiria te taura kia ngātahi ai! Ko te rau tāwhiri o Te Rōpū Māori, e pōwhiri atu nei ki a tīpatere kia pōī mai ki ngā raorao haumako o Ngāi Tahu.

SOCIAL EVENTS

When it comes to reflecting on the highlights of your university experience, the social events of Te Rōpū Māori come second to none. Hosted on the foundation of tikanga Māori, whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, Te Rōpū Māori social events serve not only premise for connecting with tauira Māori but also the best and only place to be for the times of your life! Some of the events that have happened in the past include:
  • Mystery Bus: This event takes tauira Māori on a night adventure throughout Ōtepoti
  • Escape Rooms, paintball and game nights
  • Movies, spa days and 
  • Wine and Cheese and Awards Night

Te Hōkai

Te Hōkai is the time of the year that second-hand dresses and mates rates haircuts are on high demand. It is the annual Te Rōpū Māori ball that brings tauira Māori together in celebration of their successes at University. While all our events are important, Te Hōkai allows us to honour all our achievements and connect and unify the relationships we have forged throughout the year—and what better time than when in suit and tie. There have been amazing guests who have come along to this and even better memories made. It’s the most anticipated Te Rōpū Māori annual event!